Alone With Mei Lin

As Li Hua turned to leave, Zhang Wei's voice stopped her from opening the door. "Thank you, Shimei," he murmured, his gaze carrying a hint of vulnerability she hadn't seen in years. It was a familiar look, one that tugged at her memories of their younger days in the sect, when Zhang Wei often found himself in trouble.

Li Hua's lips twitched with the ghost of a smile at the nostalgia his expression brought. "Don't worry, Shixiong. I won't breathe a word about the pill," She replied softly, understanding his unspoken plea, "I don't want to be cursed by the entire sect just yet."

Zhang Wei hung his head down, "It'll be troublesome if Sect Leader Shixiong and the Council of Elders know about it."

"So you are self-aware," Li Hua retorted lightly, a hint of amusement in her tone. As she left the room, she paused at the door. "If anything happens with Scarlet Shadow, don't call me again, Shixiong. This is your burden now." Li Hua cast one last look at Zhang Wei and the woman called Scarlet Shadow. With a final nod, she turned and stepped out into the corridor, the door closing softly behind her.

Her footsteps echoed down the hallway, her mind swirling with conflicting thoughts. She had always seen Wei Shixiong as someone who upheld righteousness, a pillar of discipline and duty, maybe not the young version, but him as an elder. Yet today, she had witnessed a different side of him—a side willing to bend the rules, to risk everything for a woman who, by all accounts, should be their adversary.

She resolved to keep a close watch on this unfolding drama, for the sake of her fallen husband and the honor of their sect. Whatever bond existed between Zhang Wei and Mei Lin, it was bound to have repercussions far beyond the confines of the room they were inside.

Li Hua paused briefly, her hand resting on the cool stone wall. The image of Zhang Wei tending to Scarlet Shadow lingered in her thoughts, stirring a curiosity she couldn't shake. She resolved then to keep a watchful eye on this unfolding drama, not just for the sake of her fallen husband and the sect's honor, but to understand the depths of Zhang Wei's conviction.

Yet amidst her uncertainty, one thing remained clear—Zhang Wei's unwavering determination had set in motion a chain of events that would reshape their sect's destiny, for better or for worse.

***

As the heavy wooden door clicked shut behind Li Hua, the room fell into an almost eerie silence. The hours passed slowly, the silence in the room broken only by the soft sounds of Mei Lin's breathing and the distant murmur of disciples going about their duties.

Zhang Wei stood beside the cot, his gaze fixed intently on Mei Lin's pale face. Moonlight filtered through the window, casting a gentle glow over her features, his eyes roaming about the bandages, remembering the bruises and cuts they concealed. His heart ached at the sight of them, some of which he had known about  but many more that he hadn't. He badly wanted to shake her awake and ask the question that gnawed at his insides: 'What kind of a life have you been living, Mei Lin?'

A conflicted expression crossed Zhang Wei's face as he reached out, gently brushing aside a lock of hair from Mei Lin's forehead. "Mei Lin," he whispered almost inaudibly. The once familiar name felt strange as it rolled off his tongue. "This isn't how I wanted us to meet again."

For a long moment, Zhang Wei simply sat there, by her side, as if frozen in time, grappling with the weight of his decision. The Divine Restoration Pill had bought Mei Lin precious time, but it was evident that her injuries ran deeper than what any pill could mend. He knew Li Hua's assessment—her meridians shattered, her dantian crushed—rendered her incapable of wielding spiritual energy again. Mei Lin was now a mortal in the realm of cultivators, forever severed from the spiritual realms she once commanded.

Despite the animosity and the history between their sects, he couldn't shake the profound sense of responsibility he felt for her. It wasn't just about the information she might possess; it was about something deeper, something that stirred within him each time he looked at her battered form.

"Stubborn as ever." He murmured softly, his voice barely audible in the stillness of the room. 

He glanced down at her hands, clenched into fists even in her unconscious state. 

As the minutes ticked by, Zhang Wei's thoughts raced. What did Mei Lin know that was so crucial to risk everything for her survival? Was it merely strategic, or was there something more profound driving his actions? He couldn't deny the pull he felt toward her plight, the inexplicable urge to protect her despite all logic and reason. He both dreaded and eagerly awaited their long due conversation.

His thoughts kept drifting back to their shared past. He remembered the days when they trained together, the laughter, and the camaraderie. It felt like a lifetime ago, and yet the memories were as vivid as ever. He wondered what the future held for them and whether they could ever find a way to bridge the chasm that had opened between their lives.

A pang of guilt engulfed him as he recalled Li Hua's words. "This is your burden now." Indeed, the weight of that burden settled heavily on his shoulders. He had defied the norms of their sect, risked the wrath of their leaders, all to keep Mei Lin alive. For what purpose, he wasn't entirely sure, but the conviction burned within him, undeniable and unwavering. He made a silent vow to protect her, no matter the cost.

As the moon continued its silent vigil through the window, casting shadows across the room, exhaustion finally caught up with Zhang Wei. He fell asleep, his dreams filled with memories of their past, a reminder of the bond he was willing to protect at any cost.